Automatic start and stop mechanism for phonographs



Qd. 2l 924, 1,512,426

, s. KOHN AUTOMATIC START AND STOP MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed June16 .1922 2 Sheets-Sheet .L

)j A TTOHIVEY s. KOHN AUroMATIc START AND sToP VMECHANISM FoEr'IoNoGRAPHs Filed June 16. '1.922 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented @CL Zi,i924,

SAMUEL KOI-IN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC START AND STO? MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Application filed June 16, 1922.

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL KoHN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, county and State of New York, have invented newand useful Improvements in Automatic Start and Stop Mechanism forPhonographs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to automatic startand-stop mechanism and isdesigned particularly for use in connection with phonographs of the typein which a rotary disk record is employed, although it may be founduseful in other and different connections.

Qne of the objects of this invention is the provision of a stopmechanism normally operative but rendered inoperative by the movement ofthe tone arm across the record and until the tone arm ceases to move atwhich time it becomes operative to stop the phonograph.

Another object is the provision of novel means for automaticallystopping the phonograph when the selection on the record has been playedwithout the us-e of the usual brake or retaining levers for the brake.

Another objectis to provide a start-andstop mechanism which does notdepend upon frictional contact with the tone arm or connected parts.

Still another object is to provide a device which is simple inconstruction, inexpensive Vto manufacture, composed of few parts and onewhich will automatically stop the phonograph when the end of theselection is reached regardless of variations in the pitch of the soundgroove of the record used and no matter how long or how short theselection may be, and which will start the phonograph upon subsequentmovement of the tone arm to its extreme outward position.

Still another object is the provision of a start-and-stop mechanismconsisting of a rotating arm directly connected to the moto-r operatingmechanism so that if the rotation of the arm be arrested, the motor mustalso stop.

Heretofore it has been necessary in automatic stop devices to usev abrake normally act-ive and a retaining lever to hold the brake inactivewhile the selection on the record is being played and then the retaininglever is tripped releasing the brake to stop the machine.

Serial No. 568,845.V

I have overcome the many diiiiculties presented by the old arrangementand'have reduced the numb-er of working parts by eliminating the usualbrake and avoiding' the use of any retaining lever, etc.

Also it has heretofore been necessary to interpose some frict-ionalconnection between the tone arm or swinging element and its relatedparts propelled or actuated by it and this was necessary because of thefixed or stationary position of the pivots for the various parts inrelation to the swinging element or tone arm.

This also I have overcome by providing a floating or migratory pivotpermitting the location of the pivot to be lchanged to main- Y tainsubstantially the same relation to the swinging element.

lVith the aboveand other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction'and in certain parts andcombinations hereinafter to be described and more particularly pointedout in the claims. l

In theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification Fiourel is a planview of a phonograph equipped with an automatic start andstop mechanism embodying the invention, certain parts being broken awayfor clearnessand showingthe relation of parts while the turntable is atrest.

Figure 2 is 4a similar view showing the relation of parts while theturntable is in motion. 4 K

vFigure 8 is an elevation of the same, partly in section. 4 Y

Figure 4 is a Sectional view v'on line et+/,t on Figure 1.

The phonograph elements are illustrated to such an extent only as isnecessary for the proper understanding of the invention and arerepresented by the motor board or casing l, above which ismounted theturntable 2 operated in the usual manner on theV turntable shaft 3 bythe usual motor (not shown). a is the usual tone arm, carrying the soundbox or reproducer 5 and the stylus A or needle 6 and which, when themachine is in operation, 1s swung inwardly by the needle which rests inthe spiral sound `groove i7 of the usual record disc e.Y

An automatic start-and-stop mechanism embodying the invention comprisesa gear 8 meshing with and operated by a pinion 9 tixedly attached to therotating element or turntable shaft 3, the gear 8 being keyed orotherwise fastened to the lower end of a shaft 10 journaled for freerotary movement within a bearing 11, fixed as by riveting or spinning toa supporting plate 12, mounted upon the motor board 1 and secured to itwith screws or other fastening means. The upper end of shaft 10 isshouldered and screw threaded to engage the internal thread of an arm 13for retaining the shaft in the proper relation with its bearing 11 andfor other purposes which will presently appear( Obviously when therotating element 3 revolves it rotates the gear 8 through the agency ofthe pinion 9, and the gear 8 necessarily rotates with it the shaft 10and its arm 13.

Pivotally mounted on a shoulder of the bearing or bushing 11 is, what Iterm, a floating support 16, the free end of which carries the-lever 17loosely slidably pivoted to it by means of a shouldered stud 18 fastenedto the support 16 through a longitudinal slot 19 in the lever.

The end of the lever nearest the pivot is preferably provided kwith aspring clip or saddle 2O adapted for slidable frictional engagement withthe lever 17, the clip being provided with a downturned projection orlinger 21 for engagement in recess 22 in the edge of the lever forlimiting the movement of the clip and it is further provided withregistering perforations 23 within which and a slot 2e' of the lever isloosely conned the bent end 25 of the arm 26 fastened to the tone arm asby screws or other fastening means 27. However, I have found that Imight. omit the spring clip 2O by shortening the slot 241 in the lever17.

The other end of the lever 17 is provided. with an extension 28, thepurpose for which will presently appear. An abutment is preferably bentup from the supporting plate 12 and acts to limit the movement of thelever 17 as will'more clearly appear as the description progresses. @neside of the lever 17 intermediate its endsis provided with a downturnedlug 31 for engaging the edge of the support 16 to maintain the relativeposition of the lever and support when the lever is moved in onedirection.

In operation the device works as follows:

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing the full lines show the tonearm with its reproducer and stylus, removed from the disc record andalso shows the relative position of the various parts when the machine:is at rest. To start the phonograph it is only necessary to move thetone arm t outwardly to its extreme position as shown by dotted lines inFigure 1. This movement causes the arm 26 carried by the tone arm, todescribe an arc and due to the engagement of the bent end 25 of the arm26 with the lever 17 the movement of the t0n@ arm causes the end of thearm to Contact with one e-nd of the slots 23 and 24 respectively of thelever 17 and the clip 2U, thus causing the lever 17 to be drawnoutwardly, to withdraw its end from between the rotating arm 18 and theabutment 30 and permitting the rotating arm under the influence of themotor to rotate with the rotating element.

The stylus is then placed upon the record in the usual manner andcontinues to advance toward the center of the record until it hasreached a predetermined point within a short distance of the last soundconvolution on the record. During this normal inward movement of thetone arm, the end of the arm 26 contacts with the further side of theslot 2l in the lever and will turn the lever on its pivot until the lug31 contacts with the edge of the support 16. rlhen further movement ofthe tone arm will cause the support to be moved about its pivot 15, therelative position of the support and lever being maintained by theconstant pressure of the bent end of the arm 26 on the side of the slot.lWhen the end 25 in describing its arc finally reaches the bottom of tteslots 23, the pressure is then transferred to the clip thus tending tomove it downward longitudinally of the lever, but due to the frictionalengagement of the clip with the lever, the lever itself is moveddownward longitudinally until it has reached the limitof its movement,the end of the slot 19 contacting with the pivot 18. rllhe parts arethen in the relative positions shown in solid lines on Figure 2. Furtherpressure on the clip, will cause it to move relatively of the leverwithout interfering with it in any way.

.lt will be noticed that in this position the extension 28 is presentedinto the path ofthe rotating arm 13 which in its rotation will contactwith the extension and cam it outof its path so that it may continue torotate, butv this camming nievement has caused the opposite edge 29 ofthe' lever to be presented into 'the path of the rotating arm and unlessthe lever were moved again the rotating arm would, npon the nextrevolution, contact with it and move it against the abutment 30 and stopthe machine. lt is obvious of course that some method must be providedfor pir/2 oting the lever from the path of the-ro tating arm during thelnormal movement of the tone arm. This is accomplished in the followingmanner.

During the normal movement of the tone arm-the end of the arm 26 movesthe lever both downward longitudinally and forward pivotally so thatafter the rotating arm has cammed the extension and continues in itsrotation, before it makes a complete revolution, the tone arm, in itsforward movement will have turned the lever on its pivot thus removingit from the arms p-ath and presenting instead the extension 28. It isobvious of course that the lever will no-t be turned on its pivot by thecamming action of the rotating arm against the extension but thatinstead the support 16 will be moved aboutits own pivot thus advancingthe pivot of .the lever slightly forward concentrically with therotation of the arm. This will be more clearly understood when it isexplained that we have in effect a lever of the second class in whichthe rotating arm 13 acts as the power, the bent end of the arm 26 actsas the fulcrum, and the support 16 acts as the weight.

IVe have in effect a `Heating support which is being intermittentlyadvanced about its pivot by the camming action of the rotating arm.1When the tone arm ceases t-o move by reason of its having reached thelast sound convolution in the record, the lever will no longer be turnedon its pivot and hence when the rotating arm makes another revolution,it will contact with the edge 29 4of the lever, and move it against theabutment; 30 thus checking the arms further rotation, all of which isclearly shown by dotted lines on Figure 2 of the drawing. When themovementl of the rotating arm is checked it necessarily checks with itthe movement of the rotating element and thus stops the machine. Supposenow it is desire-d to change the record orto repeat the reproductionupon .the record. It is then but necessary .to .lift the tone arm in theusual manner and swing saine outwardly to the full line position shownin Figure 1. This movement will cause the end of .the arm 26 to contactwith the near side of the slot. 24 causing the support 16 to turn on itspivot although permitting the end of the lever 17 to remain between therotating arm 13 and the abut ment 30, until after the new record hasfbeen placed upon the turn table and the tone arm moved to its fullyextended or extreme position shown by the ldotted lines on Fig* ure 1. y

'While one embodiment of the inventive idea has been herein describedand illustrated in detail, it is apparent that the invention is `notrestricted to the particular structural embodiment which ris illustratedand described, but that it is susceptible of various embodimentsconforming to the detinition of the invention given in the claims whichfollow. f

"What I claim is 1. An automatic stop mechanism for phonographscomprising a rotating arm propelled by the phonograph' motor, a lever,an abutment, and means for automatically interposing one end of thelever between the rotating `arm and the abutment.

2. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, a stopmechanism for the rotating element comprising, a support, a lever, anabutment, and a rotating arm adapted whenthe swinging ele ment ceases tomove,-to interpose one endy of the-lever between it and the abutment,and means for removing the "lever 'from between said rotating arm andsaid'abutment.

3. In combination withY a phonograph i propelled by the phonographmotor, apivoted support, a lever pivotally carried by said support andadapted when the .tone arm ceases to move, to intercept the rotating armto stop the machine.

5. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the-rotating element, a support, a. leverpivotally ycarried by said support, an abutment and automatic' means forinterposing one end of said lever tween the abutment and the arm toarrest the arms rotation. c

6. An automatic start and stop mechanism for phonographs .comprisingfanarm rotatedby the phonograph motor, a pivoted support, a lever pivotallyc arried by said support and `adapted to intercept the rotating arm tostop the motor when the tone arm ceases to move, and automatic means for'restoring the parts to theirinitial position.

7. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a support adapted forpivotal movement concentric with said arm,"a lever pivotally carried bysaid support, an abutment and automatic means :tor interposing one endof the lever' between the abutmentand the rotating armto arrest therotation o1 said arm.

8. An automatic stop mechanism for phonographs comprising a rotatingvarm propelled by the phonograph motor, a lever, an abutment, andautomaticmeans adapted when the selection on the record is complete tointerpose one end of the vvlever between therotating -arm and thecabutment to stop the phonograph.

9. 'An automatic' stop mechanism tor phonographs comprising a rotatingarm propelled to the phonograph motor, a support, a lever pivotallycarried by said sup# port, an abutment, and automatic means operablewhen the tone arm ceases -to move n MC- to interpose one end of thelever between said rotating arm and said abutment to stop thephonograph.

10. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, anarm positively rotated by the rotating element, a pivoted support, alever loosely pivotally carried by said support, one end of' said leverbeing actuated by the rotating arm to move the support, and when theswinging element ceases to move, to check the rotation of the arm.

11. An automatic stop mechanism for phonographs, comprising a rotatingarm propelled by the phonograph motor, a pivoted support, a leverloosely pivotally carried by said support, one end of said lever beingactuated by the normal movement of the swinging element, the other endof said lever adapted when the swinging element ceases to move, to checkthe rotation of the arm.

12. An automatic stop mechanism for phonographs comprising a irotatingarm propelled by the phonograph motor, a pivoted support, a leverloosely pivotally carried by said support, one end of said lever beingactuated by the normal movement of the swinging element, the other endof said lever being actuated by the rotating` arm to move the support,and when the swinging element ceases to move, to check the rotation ofthe arm.

13. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, anarm rotated by the rotating element, a pivoted support, a leverpivotally carried by said support, one end of the lever being actuatedby the rotating Velement to move it into the path of the rotating arm,the other end of the lever being actuated by the normal movement of theswinging element to move the lever out of the path of the rotating arm.

11i- The combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, ofa revoluble member propelled by the rotating element, a lever, afloating support for the lever, an abutment, means `for turning thelever on its pivot during the normal movement of the swinging element,and means adapted when the swinging element ceases to move to interposethe lever between the revoluble member and the abutment.

l5. An automatic start-and-stop mechanism for phonographs comprising apivoted support and a rotating arm, the rotating arm and the pivot ofthe support havw ing a common centre, an abutment, a lever looselypivoted to the support, means for moving` the lever about its pivot inone direction during the normal movement of the tone arm acrosstherecord, means for moving the support about its pivot in one certaindirection said means also adapted, when the tone arm ceases to move, tointerpose one end of the lever between the abutment and the rotating armto stop the phonograph, and means operable by the swinging element whenit is subsequently moved to its eX- treme outward position, to start thephonograph.

16. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a pivoted support, alever loosely pivoted to said support, and means associated with saidrotating arm for intermittently advancing said support about its pivot.

17. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a pivoted support, alever loosely pivoted to said support, and means for advancing saidsupport about its pivot.

18. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a support pivotedconcentrically of said arm, a lever loosely pivoted to said support, andmeans for intermittently advancing said support about the common centre.

19. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a pivoted support, alever loosely pivoted to said support, means for advancing said supportabout its pivot, and automatic means operable when the swinging elementceases to move, to render said first means inactive.

20. The combination with a rotating element and a swinging element; of arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a loosely pivoted. leverhaving` a migratory pivot, and means forv moving said pivot about thecenter of the rotating arm.

21. The combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, of arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a lever having amigratory pivot, means -ifo: moving said pivot about the centre of therotating arm, and automatic means operable when the swinging elementceases to move to render said f irst named means inactive.

22. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a pivoted support havingthe centre of its pivot coincident with the centre of the rotating arm,a lever loosely pivoted to the free end of said support, means on theswinging element to move the lever about its pivot one direction duringthe normal movement of said swinging element, and meansl actuated by therotating element during said normal movement, for intermittentlyadvancing the support.

23. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, apivoted support, a lever slidably pivoted to said support and adapted tobe actuated at one end by the normal movement of the swinging element,the other end of said lever being adapted when the swinging elementceases to move to stop the rotating element.

24. The combination with a. rotating element and a swinging element; ofa pivoted lever, a rotating arm and an abutment, the rotating arm beingadapted to move the lever into its path during the normal movement ofthe swinging element and to be stopped when the swinging element ceasesto move, by the coaction of the lever with the abutment.

25. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the .rotating element, an abutment, a pivotedsupport, a lever pivoted to said support one end of thelever beingactuated by the normal movement of the swinging element the other end ofthe lever adapted when the swinging element ceases to move to coact withthe abutment to check ythe rotation of the rotating arm.

26. An automatic start-and-stop Vmechanism for phonographs comprising a'rotating arm propelled bythe phonograph motor, a pivoted support, alever pivotally carried by said support and adapted when the tone armceases to move to intercept the rotating arm -to stop the motor, andmeans'or advancing the lever longitudinally and retaining it in suchposition during kpart or all of thenormal movement of the tone arm anduntil the tone arm is subsequently manually moved to start thephonograph.v

27. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled pivoted support, a lever loosely pivoted to saidsupport, and means for intermittently advancing said support about itspivot a distance equal to the distance travelled by the Vswingingelement during one revolution of the rotating arm.

28. In combination with a rotating element and a swinginga element, ayrotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a pivoted support, alever loosely pivoted to said support, an extension on said lever, meansfor intermittently advancing said support about its pivot a dista-neeequal to the .distance travelled by the swinging element during onerevolution ofthe rotating arm, and means p 'bring its extension into thepath of the rotating arm during thernormal movement of the swingingelement.

V29. In combination with a Arotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a loosely pivoted leverhaving a migratory pivot, and lmeans for moving 'said pivot about thecentre of the rotating armV a distance equal to .the distance travelledby the by the rotating element, a

for pivoting the lever to swinging element during each revolution of therotating arm.

30. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a-

lever having an extension and a migratory pivot, means for moving saidpivot about the centre. of the rotating arm a distance equal to the.distance travelled by the swinging element during each revolution of therotating arm, and means for pivoting the lever to bring its extensioninto the path of the rotating arm during the normal `movement of thetone arm.

3l.. In a combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a lever having amigratory pivot, means foi1 moving said pivot about the centre of therotating arm a distance equal to the distance travelled by the swingingyelement durin each revolution of the rotating arm, and automatic meansoperable when the swinging element ceases to move t0 render sai'd first`means inactive.

32. In combination'with a rotating element .and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a lever having amigratory pivot, an eXtension on said lever, means for moving said pivotabout the centre of the rotating y'arm a distance equal to the distancetravelled by the swinging element during each revolution of the rotatingarm, means for pivoting the lever to bring its extension into the pathof the rotating arm during vthe normal movement of the swinging element,and automatic means operable Vwhen the swinging element ceases to move'to render said first means inactive.

33. In a combination with a Yrotating element and a swinging element, arotatable arm propelled b-y the rotatingV element, a pivoted supporthaving the centre of Vits pivot coincident with the centre of therotating arm, a lever loosely pivoted to the free end of said support,means on the swinging element for moving the lever about its pivot inone 4direction during the normal movement of said swinging element andmeans actuated by the rotating element Jfor intermittently advancing thepivot of the lever a distance, equal to the distance travelled by theswinging element during one revolution of the rotating arm.

34. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rota-ting element, a lever, an abutment,means for automatically interposing one end of the lever between therotating arm and the aibutmentto stop said arm, and means for retainingthe lever in said vposition until freed by manual movement of theswinging element.

manual movement of the swinging element.

36. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a support, a leverpivotally carried by saidA support, an abutment, automatic means forinterposing one end of said lever between the abutment and arm to arrestthe arms rotation, and means for retaining the lever in said positionuntil freed by manual movement of the swinging element.

37. The combination with a phonograph, of a brakeless stop and startingmechanism, operative when the tone arm ceases to move to stop thephonograph and when the tone arm is subsequently manually moved to eX-treme outward position, to start the phonograph.

38. The combination with a rotating element and a swinging element of abrakeless stop mechanism operable when the swinging element ceases tomove to stop the rotating element.

89. The combination with a phonograph I having a rotating Velement and aswinging element, of means operable when the swinging-element ceases tomove, to intercept the rotating element and stop it at the point ofinterception. Y

40. The combination with a rotating element and a swinging' element, ofa pivoted support, alever loosely pivoted to said sup-- port, anabutment and means rotated by the rotating element and coacting with thelever and the abutment when the swinging element ceases to move, to stopthe machine.

41. The combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, ofa'loosely pivoted lever having a migratory pivot, an abutment, and meansrotated by the rotating element and coacting with the lever and theabutment when the swinging element ceases to move, to stop the rotatingelement.

42. The combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, of-a Vloosely pivoted lever having a migratory pivot, means for movingsaid pivot periodically an abutment, and means rotated by the rotatingelement and coacting with the lever and the abutment when the swingingelement ceases to move, to stop the rotating element.V

43. The combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, of aloosely pivoted lever having a migratory pfivot,

means for moving said pivot periodically, an abutment and means rotatedby the rotating element and coacting with the lever and the abutmentwhen the swinging element ceases to move, to stop the rotating element,and means for returning the parts to their initial relative position.

44. An automatic start-and-stop mechanism for phonographs comprising arotating arm propelled by .ghe phonograph motor, a pivoted support, anda lever pivotally carried by said support and adapted when the tone armceases to move to intercept the rotating arm to stop the motor and meansto free said arm to start the motor.v

45. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled bythe rotating element, a support, a leverpivotally carried by said'support, an abutment, automatic means forinterposing one end of said lever between the abutment and the arm toarrest the arms-rotation and means to freesaid arm to permit it tocontinue to rotate. i Y v 46. An automatic stop mechanism forphonographs, comprising a rotating arm propelled by the phonographmotor, a lever, an abutment, automatic means adapted when the selectionon the record is complete to interpose one end of the lever between therotating arm and the abutment to stop the phonograph, and means vtoremove the lever from between said abutment and said arm to start thephonograph. A

47. In combination with a` rotating element and a swinging element, arotating arm propelled by the rotating element, a support adapted forpivot-al movement concentric with said arm, a lever pivotally carried bysaid support, an abutment, automatic means for interposing oneend of thelever between the abutment and the rotating arm to arrest the rotationof said arm, and means operable by the swinging lelement when'it ismoved outwardly toits extreme position to remove the lever to releasesaid arm.

v 48. An automatic stop mechanism for phonographs, comprising a rotatingarm propelled by the phonograph motor, a support, a lever pivotallycarried by saidsupport, an abutment, automatic means operable whenthetone arm of the phonograph ceasesv to move, to interp'ose one end ofthe lever between said rotating arm and said abutment to stop thephonograph, and means to remove the lever from between said abutment andsaid arm to start the phonograph. Y 49. In combination with a rotatingelement and a swinging element, an arm positively rotated by therotating element, a pivoted support, a lever loosely pivotally carriedby said support, one end of said lever being actuated by the normalmovement of the swinging element, the other end of said lever adaptedwhen the swinging element ceases to move to check the rotation of thearm to stop the rotating element7 and means operable by the swingingelement when it is subsequently moved outwardly to its eXtreme positionto release said arm to permit the rotating element to continue itsrotation.

50. rlhe combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, ofa startand-stop mechanism Comprising a rotating 10 arm, a lever, amigratory pivot for said level1 and an abutment, said mechanism servingto automatically stop the rotating element when the swinging elementceases to move, and to start the rotating element when the swingingelement is moved outwardly to its extreme position.

In testimony whereof I herewith afiX my signature.

SAMUEL KOI-IN.

